Bruno Moreira, a former professional football player, was one of the 225 people from Famalicão who this Monday received a diploma certifying and validating their competences, thus completing the 12th grade "studies that were suspended when I started playing football". Once his sporting career was over, he felt the need to go back to school "to validate skills, continue studying and add training to take safe steps in the future" and the Skills Recognition, Validation and Certification (RVCC) process was the way he found to go back to school "and it was very rewarding," said the player, who played for several First League clubs such as Rio Ave, Chaves and Moreirense.
Since 2015, when it began operating, the Vila Nova de Famalicão Qualifica Centre has enabled 1286 Famalicenses to improve their skills and qualifications through the RVCC process.

"Famalicão has been saying how it's done and the work of this Qualifica Centre has served as a benchmark for other centres in the country, because what has been done here in vocational guidance and retraining is of excellence," said the Secretary of State for Education António Leite.

It should be noted that among the adults who received a diploma yesterday certifying completion of the RVCC process were those who had completed basic education, secondary education or those who had obtained certification in level four qualifying training courses. 

"It's a process that allows Famalicans to increase their qualifications, which are often synonymous with career and life project development," emphasised the mayor of Famalicão, Mário Passos. 

"Lifelong learning and openness to knowledge are fundamental for the future and these 200 or so Famalicenses who have increased their qualifications are a good example because, by improving their skills, with more qualifications, they further qualify the territory and this will, these numbers, make us very happy and proud," added the mayor.

Mário Passos recalled the municipality's strong commitment to education "which for us is a strategic priority, because we believe that creating and valuing talent is fundamental for our collective future".

The mayor was delighted to see Famalicão's Qualifica Centre recognised by both the Secretary of State for Education and the president of the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education, Filipa Jesus, "as a national benchmark in what is being done in professional qualification and requalification, valuing knowledge, science, technology and innovation".

It should be remembered that the Vila Nova de Famalicão Qualifica Centre is the result of coordination between Famalicão City Council and the partner entities of the Local Education and Training Network and is a structure specialising in qualifications, completely free of charge, and is the gateway to lifelong learning and adult qualifications. Since its creation, more than 10,000 people from Famalicão have been accompanied and referred to qualifying training offers through the Qualifica Centre.